Cricket

As the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction approaches, a plethora of Indian and overseas cricketers eagerly await their fate. Among them is Ashutosh Sharma, a 26-year-old middle-order batter who made a significant impact in the 2024 IPL season with Punjab Kings.After being picked at his base price of ₹20 lakh, Ashutosh seized the opportunity and showcased his daring and inventive strokeplay. Batting predominantly in the slog overs, he contributed 189 runs in 11 matches at a remarkable strike rate of 167.26.Despite his impressive performance, Ashutosh was not retained by Punjab Kings, a decision that he accepts with equanimity. "I didn't think much about whether I was retained or not. It is not in my hands," he said. "Wherever I go, I will be happy as long as I just play cricket."Ashutosh's journey to the IPL has been marked by perseverance and determination. After not getting enough opportunities for Madhya Pradesh in domestic cricket, he moved to Railways, where he finally found his footing.Reflecting on his IPL experience, Ashutosh highlights the invaluable lessons he learned. "I have learned a lot of things. A lot of legends play in the IPL. I have learned by observing how they perform on a big stage," he said. "I used to get to bat in tough situations. The biggest lesson was how to handle those tough situations and how to stay calm and believe in yourself."As the mega auction looms, Ashutosh remains optimistic about his prospects. "I am excited about the auction. I am hoping to get picked by a team that believes in me and gives me the opportunity to showcase my skills," he said.With his talent and determination, Ashutosh Sharma is poised to make a significant impact in the upcoming IPL season. Whether he returns to Punjab Kings or finds a new home, his journey is a testament to the transformative power of the IPL and the opportunities it provides to aspiring cricketers.

Deepak Chahar, the Indian pacer, is eager for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to bid for him at the upcoming IPL auction. Chahar, who has been out of action since May due to an injury, has expressed his desire to don the yellow jersey once again.Chahar, who has represented CSK since the start of his IPL career, was not retained by the five-time champions ahead of the auction. However, he is confident that his skills will be valued in the current T20 landscape, where teams are scoring heavily in the Powerplay."I have proved how valuable I can be in limiting runs in that phase of the game," Chahar said. "I think they (CSK) will bid for me again. I would like to don the yellow jersey again and if not that, then I would want Rajasthan Royals to bid for me."Chahar has been dealing with injuries in recent years, including a stress fracture in the back and a quadriceps tear. He has spent 18 months in rehab in the last three years. However, he is now confident about his body and hopeful that the hard work he has put in will help him revive his career."I have worked really hard on my fitness and I am confident that I am back to my best," Chahar said. "I am eager to get back on the field and help my team win matches."

Ben Stokes Skips IPL 2025 Mega AuctionEnglish all-rounder Ben Stokes has opted out of the upcoming IPL 2025 mega auction, scheduled for November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The absence of Stokes, who has been a key player for Rajasthan Royals in recent seasons, is a significant development ahead of the auction.The IPL has released a long list of 1574 registered players, which will be finalized after receiving input from the franchises. The list includes all the marquee Indian players who were not retained by their teams. Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer, former captains of Delhi Capitals, Lucknow Super Giants, and Kolkata Knight Riders, respectively, are listed at a base price of INR 2 crore. Other notable players at this price point include R Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal, both released by Rajasthan Royals.Mohammed Shami, who has been sidelined since the 2023 ODI World Cup final due to injuries, is also listed at a base price of INR 2 crore after being released by Gujarat Titans. The auction is expected to attract a wide range of players, both domestic and international, as teams look to bolster their squads for the upcoming season.Stokes' decision to skip the auction is likely due to his busy schedule with the England national team. He is expected to play a key role in the upcoming Ashes series against Australia and the 2023 World Cup in India.

KL Rahul, the seasoned Indian wicketkeeper-batter and former captain of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), is reportedly set to leave the franchise ahead of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) retention list. According to a report in the Times of India, Rahul has declined LSG's offer of top retention due to personal and professional reasons.Rahul's departure from LSG has sparked interest from several other franchises, including Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans, Rajasthan Royals, and Chennai Super Kings. These teams are expected to aggressively pursue Rahul in the upcoming auction.Under the IPL retention guidelines, teams can retain up to six players, with financial penalties for each retained player. Retaining five capped players would reduce a team's auction purse by Rs 75 crore.The mega auction is scheduled to take place overseas in the last week of November, with an increased auction purse of Rs 120 crore. The total salary cap now includes an auction purse, incremental performance pay, and match fees.Rahul's decision to leave LSG is a significant development in the IPL landscape. The 31-year-old has been a consistent performer in the league, leading Punjab Kings and LSG in the past. His departure opens up opportunities for other players to step into leadership roles and for franchises to reshape their squads.

Legendary Indian cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni has hinted at continuing his illustrious career in the Indian Premier League (IPL) beyond 2025. The 43-year-old, who has led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to four IPL titles, expressed his desire to play for "the next few years" and maintain his fitness for the grueling tournament.Dhoni's comments come amidst speculation about his future in the IPL. He had previously handed over the CSK captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad ahead of the 2024 season. However, his continued presence in the team would be a major boost for the franchise and the tournament as a whole."I just want to enjoy whatever last few years of cricket I am able to play," Dhoni said at a promotional event. "When you play cricket like a professional sport, it becomes difficult to enjoy it just like a game. That's what I want to do. It's not easy. The emotions keep coming, the commitments are there. I want to enjoy the game for the next few years."Dhoni's words suggest that he is not only targeting the 2025 IPL season but also the subsequent three-year cycle after the mega auction. He emphasized the need to stay fit for nine months to prepare for the two-and-a-half-month IPL season."I have to keep myself fit for nine months, so that I can play two and a half months of IPL. You need to plan it out, but at the same time chill a bit," Dhoni said.With his last appearance for Team India being over five years ago, Dhoni can be retained by CSK as an uncapped player at a price of only Rs 4 crore. This is due to the revival of a rule that was previously removed in 2021.Dhoni's continued presence in the IPL would not only benefit CSK but also the tournament itself. As one of the most iconic and successful players in IPL history, his presence would add star power and excitement to the competition.

The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are gearing up for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season with a renewed determination to capture the coveted title. The team has undergone significant changes, including the appointment of legendary pacer Zaheer Khan as a mentor.LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka emphasized the importance of having an Indian mind in the support staff to maximize the potential of the players. He believes that Zaheer's unwavering desire to win and his experience as a player will be invaluable assets to the team.Goenka expressed dissatisfaction with the team's performance in the previous season, citing a lack of experienced decision-making. He believes that Zaheer's role will be crucial in addressing this issue and guiding the team towards success.Goenka also highlighted the importance of experience in the team, drawing lessons from the Rising Pune Supergiants' journey to the IPL final in 2017. He believes that the team's lack of experience at the time ultimately cost them the title.With Zaheer's addition to the support staff, LSG aims to create a balanced team with a blend of experience and youthful exuberance. The team is confident that these changes will propel them towards their ultimate goal of winning the IPL championship.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is actively engaged in discussions with Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises to finalize the retention policy for the upcoming mega auction. The board aims to conclude the process by the end of July.The retention policy is a crucial aspect of the IPL, as it determines the number of players that franchises can retain from their existing squads. In the 2021 IPL auction, franchises were allowed to retain a maximum of four players. However, there are varying opinions among franchises regarding the ideal number of retentions.Some franchises have expressed a preference for retaining 5-7 players, while others have suggested allowing up to 8 retentions. Conversely, a few franchises have proposed eliminating the retention system altogether.The BCCI has also sought feedback from franchises on the salary cap for the next three years. The current salary cap is set at Rs 100 crore, but there is a possibility of increasing it by Rs 20 crore for the upcoming auction.Another topic on the agenda is the use of Right To Match (RTM) cards. In the 2021 auction, RTM cards were not utilized. The BCCI has asked franchises for their views on whether to reinstate the RTM system.The meeting between the BCCI and franchise CEOs is expected to take place by the end of July, as some CEOs are currently unavailable. The board is keen on finalizing the retention policy and other key aspects of the IPL auction in a timely manner.

Will Jacks, the rising star of English cricket, is eager to put the valuable lessons he learned from batting alongside Virat Kohli in the Indian Premier League (IPL) to good use when England defends its T20 World Cup title next month.Jacks, who has played in two Tests, seven ODIs, and 12 T20Is for England, made a significant impact in the IPL for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). He struck a blistering century off just 41 balls against Gujarat Titans, showcasing his power-hitting abilities.During his time with RCB, Jacks had the privilege of batting alongside Kohli, one of the greatest batsmen of all time. He described Kohli as a "very good role model" who taught him valuable lessons about training, intensity, and the importance of maintaining focus."He's done it for such a long time and I can appreciate that as a young guy who often doesn't want to do the hard yards, but you see him doing it and want to copy that," Jacks said.Jacks also highlighted the importance of "pacing the game" and staying in partnerships, lessons he learned from Kohli during their time together at the crease."When we were batting together, he was coaching me through there. I learned some valuable things about chasing in that innings and pacing the game, which was really helpful," Jacks said.Now, Jacks is looking forward to applying these lessons in the upcoming T20 World Cup. He is excited to play in a major global tournament and believes that England is building in the right direction."Playing in a World Cup is something I've dreamed of since I was a little kid. I'm really excited to do it," he said. "It's getting closer now and we're building in the right direction."Jacks acknowledged that his T20 record for England is a "mixed bag," but he is determined to improve his consistency and become a match-winner."I've been getting starts every game and it's about how do I change those into match-winning scores. That's more of a mindset thing. It doesn't matter what I'm averaging: if the team's winning, then it's good," Jacks said.

When Shreyas Iyer recreated Lionel Messi's iconic World Cup celebration after lifting the IPL Trophy as Kolkata Knight Riders captain in Chennai, it was a moment of triumph and vindication for the embattled Indian cricketer.Just weeks before the IPL, Iyer's central contract was torn up, and a recurring back injury threatened to derail his season. However, he found redemption in this victory, much like Messi did after exorcising the ghosts of losing the 2014 final and winning the trophy for his country after a 36-year wait.For the two-time IPL champions, the wait lasted 10 years as Iyer sang a redemption song following a topsy-turvy start to the year. It was no wonder then that he chose to imitate the man who knows all about rising from setbacks.So, with the trophy in his hands, Iyer took a playful walk towards his teammates, similar to Messi's actions after the final against France in Doha, and handed them the big prize."I am hearing a lot about Gautam Gambhir, who has created a magnificent culture in the KKR team. But this guy (Iyer), I don't think he is getting enough credit. Shreyas Iyer needs some credit," said legendary commentator Ian Bishop on Sunday as KKR defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad by eight wickets in a completely one-sided final to win their third IPL title.KKR may have gotten most of their runs from openers Sunil Narine and Phil Salt, but they played as a team and managed to come out winners in a dominant season, topping the table with two rounds to spare and enduring just three losses in between."It is hard to express how we are feeling right now. The wait was so long. We played like invincibles throughout the season. There is so much to cherish right now," said Iyer.It was a special feeling for his childhood and Mumbai coach Pravin Amre, who first tested his character by promoting Iyer to No.3 from No.7 in his maiden Ranji season in 2014-15. Iyer returned with 153, his maiden first-class hundred in their match against Bengal at Eden Gardens in December 2014."I challenged him in his entire career (in Mumbai)...I knew how strong-willed he's and it was my job as a coach to challenge him. He always liked to take the challenge in a good stride. he is a good team man. In the last world cup, he scored 530 runs," Amre said."I always told him you just do whatever is in your hands, let the other people do their job, you just remain focus on what's in your hands," added Amre who first took him under his wings at the Shivaji Park Gymkhana.By leading KKR into the final, Iyer achieved the rare feat of playing the summit clash as captain of two different franchises in the IPL. The KKR skipper missed the last season because of a back injury that required surgery in London last year. He made a comeback in the Asia Cup and went on to become India's third leading run-getter after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the last year's ODI World Cup.The year didn't start well for him though as he had a difficult outing in the home Test series against England and looked patchy scoring 140 runs in the first two matches before being left out for the final three Tests. It was learnt that he developed the recurring back problem, even though he was cleared by the Board medical staff.Iyer then became the center of a controversy when he missed the Ranji Trophy for his home state Mumbai and went on to attend KKR's pre-season camp. Iyer, however, returned to play for Mumbai in the semifinal and final against Vidarbha where he scored a resolute 95 in the second innings of their 42nd Ranji triumph.The Board omitted him from the Grade B contract and BCCI secretary Jay Shah issued a stern warning asking players not to prioritize IPL over domestic cricket. Under intense scrutiny, Iyer looked rusty at the start of the IPL and got out for a two-ball duck in their opener against SRH. He had some significant contributions later on but his efforts were all overshadowed by Narine and Salt's explosive batting.However, Iyer personified "Captain Cool" and held the team's cause ahead of his individual milestones. He went on to become the fourth leading run-getter for KKR this season with 351 runs and two fifties. His best came against the crucial first qualifier against SRH when he anchored their tricky chase of 160 with an unbeaten 58."The way he handled the team as a player is commendable. More than that, he is improving as a leader and the experts in the game are also appreciating his leadership qualities," Amre said."I personally believe success is not an accident he has worked hard for this, handling the team. Yes, he had a good team under him but bringing the best out of everyone is important," he added.